Refrigerator



' J. E. HAWKINS.

REFRIGERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1920.

L43 Patented; Jan. 10), 1922,

m: a la a 1} 2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

1. E. HAWKINS.

REFRIGERATOR.

APPLICATION man DEC.3, 1920;

Patented Jan. W 1922,

JATEJES 3E. HAVFKZTEFa, @F GLENDALE, GALTFQRNIA.

1, nit-3,32%. Specificati of Application filed December 3, 1920.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that T, JAMES HAWKINS, a citizen of the United 5 ates, residing at Glendale, in the county Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of he invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malre and use the same.

The present invention relates to refrigerator or food-storage compartment, and is an improvement over the refrigerator disclosed in my Patenth o. 1 328,625, granted flan. 20, 1920.

it is the objectof the invention to provide iceless refrigerator using three ele- Jilnients, without the aid of ice, to maintain a low atmospheric temperature within the enclosure, such elements being a structure of earthenware or plastic composition prothe compartment, an absorbent sheet disposed over said structure, and moisture supplied to said sheet for saturating same, and the arrangement being such that can circulate through the sheet curtains formed thereby, whereby the interior of the partinent' is cooled, and such circulation a-so preventing the odorous foods loin contaminating the others, in order that such odorous foods can be kept in the refii "erator without disflavoring other foods.

further object is the provision of a novel construction and assemblage of the component parts of the refrigerator structure, whereby such parts can be readily molded from clay, sand or similar material, or otherwise manufactured in a simple and convenient manner, and the parts readily assembled to build up the refrigerator, as well as enabling the parts to be readily separated for purpose of cleaning. or replacing olren part. I

Another object is the provision of such a structure having a novel water reservoir or container for holding drinking water, which is kept cool.

ith the foregoing and other objectsin view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within ters Eatent.

Serial Ho. 428,0(1'42.

Let

Jan. MP, il@%2.

the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accommnying drawings, wherein l igure l is perspective view of the improved refrigerator.

l ig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the water reservoir and absorbent sheet removed.

i ig. is longitudinal vertical section of the refrigerator.

-Fig. is a vertical transverse median section thereof.

in carrying out the invention, there is provided a pan 7, forming the bottom orbase of the structure, and of elongated form, with its ends rounded. as shown, although the ends can be square or of other formation. The rim of the pan '7 has a drain faucet 8, preferably at one end for draining the water from'the pan from time to time.

Mounted within the pan or base 7 is an upright rack or frame, including the uprights 9 forming the ends of the refrigerator body, and said uprights are of arcuate section, as shown, to correspond with and lit the ends of the pan 7, although said uprights can be of various formations. The vertical edges of the uprights 9 project toward one another at the opposite sides of the pan 7, as seen in Fig. 2, and support the uprights. These uprights 9 seat on the bottom of the pan and in fitting against the ends of the rim of the pan are prevented from sliding away from one another.

The rack or frame includes a bottom shelf 10 and an upper shelf 11, which are similar form, being elongated and having their ends rounded or otherwise formed to fit within and abut the uprights 9, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and said shelves have shoulders 12 abutting the vertical edges of said uprights. These shelves being disposed and abutting the uprights 9, will hold said uprights separated, thereby maintaining the parts in place, and the lower or bottom shelf 10 has depending lugs 13 at the ends thereof seating on the bottom of the pan. The shelf 11 is supported on cross rods 14 carried by the uprights and having their terminals embedded within the edge portions of said uprights, so that the shelf 11 extends across and seats shelves 11 can be provided, and it will be noted that the food stuffs or other objects can be readily placed within or removed from the refrigerator through the openings provided between the uprights at the opposite sides.

The top of the refrigerator comprises a.

water reservoir or container 15, which is of elongated form and its ends are preferably shaped to correspond to the uprights 9, and said reservoir is seated on said uprights. The reservoir has a faucet 16, preferably at one end, so that the water can be drawn from the reservoir for drinking purposes. The reservoir has a cover or lid 17 for resting on the rim thereof, and divided transversely, as at 18, near one end, to provide a removable piece or section 19 which can be readily raised or removed for filling the reservoir with water from time to time.

The pan 7, uprights 9, shelves 10 and 11,

V reservoir 15, and cover 17 are all molded from clay, sand, or similar material, and being of earthenware or plastic material, will aid in the cooling of the refrigerator by moisture and air circulation, as well as providing for sanitation. The parts can be easily made and assembled, and should one of the partsbecome broken, it can be readily replaced. Furthermore, the parts can be readily separated for purpose of cleaning them thoroughly.

A sheet 20 of suitable fabric, which is porous and of absorbent material, is disposed over the rack or frame, extending transversely across the cover 17 of the water reservoir 15, and providing curtains 21 depending down the sides of the structure and closing the front and rear openings. These curtains or aprons 21 afford the circulation of air through and within th food compartment, whereby to keep the contents cool and wholesome. A pocket piece 22 of similar material is secured on the upper portion of bowl or receptacle 26} disposed in inverted the sheet 20 abovethe cover 17, and forms pocket for a plate or slab 23 of earthenware similar to the other earthenware structure, which is fitted in said pocket and rests on the sheet 20, and the moisture is supplied from a position with its rim or edge seating on the pocket piece 22 over the plate 28, whereby the water is compelled to seep from the bowl or receptacle under the rim thereof to be absorbed by the material. The upper surface of the plate 23 can be grooved, as at 25, to provide for freer flow of water from under the bowl or receptacle to the sheet 20, and providesfor a flow ofthe water to the cur tains 21 by absorption and capillary attraction. i

The bowl "or receptacle 24 is readily applied by filling it in upright position and placing the sheet 20 and plate 23 over the receptacle, and then inverting the parts and placing them on the other reservoir cover 17. This will prevent the water from spilling while the receptacle is being inverted.

The upper edge of the rim of the water reservoir 15 has slots 26 at opposite sides for the circulation of air through the water reservoir, and the curtains 21 extend downwardly across said slots 26 to keep insects out of the water reservoir. This provision for the circulation of air through the reservoir will avoid sweating. and condensation therein, and the'ventilation will also keep the water pure and cool, as well as aiding in keeping the curtains 21 moist and'cool. One edge portion of the sheet 20 extends over the division 18 of the cover 17, butthe piece or section 19 can be readily removed for filling the reservoir with water when needed, and without disturbing the curtains 21 and water (Jr-moisture supplying device.

In using the refrigerator, with the parts in place, as shown and described, the water will seep from the receptacle 24' under the edge or rim thereof into the fabric material, the flow being regulated by the plate 23, and grooves 25 in the upper surface thereof, and the moisture will pass by capillary attraction and gravity down the curtains 21, thus providing films of moisture across the front and rear openings of the food compartment. The air can circulate through said curtains, whereby the evaporation of the moisture will result in the interior of the compartment being cooled and maintained at a low temperature. This de vice is preferably located within a shady airy location. supplied to the curtains, controlled by the plate 28, so that a slow feeding of the water and moisture to the curtains is maintained, and said plate 23 can be readily removed from the pocket 22 for the purpose of clean ing the plate or washing the sheet or cover-v ing 20.

The uprights 9 having their edge portion extending toward one another will seat on the bottom of the pan or base 7 without dan ger of tilting, and the bottom shelf 10 holds the lower ends of said uprights in place The moisture is continually uprights apart, and when the'reservoir is r seated on the uprights the structure is substantial, and there is no danger of same falling over ordinary usage, a

It will also be noted that the surplus water will drip from the curtains 21 into the pan 7, and the water within the pan will prevent ants or other insects from entering the food compartment, although the curtains 21 can be readily lifted aside for access into such compartment.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is :-v

1. In a refrigerator, a rack having a top forming a Water reservoir, and depending porous curtains for the absorption of moisture extending downwardly from said reservoir across openings of the rack, said reservoir having slots for the circulation of air and said curtains extending across said slots.

2. In a refrigerator, a rack having a top forming a water reservoir, said reservoir having a cover, the rim of the reservoir having slots for the circulation of air, and a por ous sheet extending across said cover and providing curtains depending across said slots and across openings of the rack.

3. In a refrigerator, a rack having a top forming a water reservoir, a cover for said reservoir, a porous sheet extending across said top and providing depending curtains for said rack, said cover being divided under said sheet and providing a removable section at one edge of said sheet.

4. In a refrigerator, a pan, separated earthenware uprights seated on the bottom of said pan and bearing against the rim thereof, a shelf between and fitting said uprights to hold them apart, a top seated on said uprights, a porous sheet extending across said top and providing depending curtains closing the openings between said uprights, and means for supplying water to said sheet above said top.

5. In a refrigerator, a base, separated earthenware uprights seated on the base and having their vertical edges extending toward one another to support the uprights, a shelf having its end portions fitted within said uprights between the edges thereof, a top seated on said uprights, a porous sheet extending across said top and providing depending curtains closing the openings between said vertical edges of the uprights, and means for supplying water to said sheet above said top.

6. A refrigerator comprising a pan, end uprights seated on the bottom of the pan and bearing against the im of the pan, a bottom shelf seated on the bottom of the pan and supported above said bottom, an upper shelf between the uprights, said uprights having their edge portions extending toward one another, cross rods carried by said edge portions of the uprights, across which the upper shelf extends to be supported thereby, the ends of the shelves being formed to fit within and abut said uprights, the lower shelf holding said uprights against said rim and the upper shelf holding the upper ends of the uprights apart, and a top seated on said uprights.

7. A refrigerator comprising a pan, end uprights seated on the bottom of the pan and bearing against the rim of the pan, a bottom shelf seated on the bottom of the pan and supported above said bottom, an upper shelf between the uprights, said uprights having their edge portions extending toward one another, cross'rods carried by said edge portions of the uprights across which the upper shelf extends to be supported thereby, the ends of the shelves being formed to fit within and abut said uprights, the lower shelf holding the lower ends of the uprights against said rim and the upper shelf holding the upper ends of the uprights apart, a top seated on said uprights, said top forming a water reservoir, a cover for said reservoir, a porous sheet extending transversely across said cover and providing ourtains depending to close the openings between said uprights, and means for supplying moisture to said sheet over said cover.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. HAWKINS.

Witnesses H. G. ELLs, MISS L. HAVEN. 

